GDP Increases in Fourth Quarter

Real gross domestic product (GDP) increased 2.2 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014, according to the “second” estimate released by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. The growth rate was 0.4 percentage point less than the “advance” estimate released in January. In the third quarter, real GDP increased 5.0 percent.

Fourth-quarter GDP highlights
The increase in GDP in the fourth quarter was more than accounted for by consumer spending, which rose 4.2 percent, compared with 3.2 percent in the third quarter. Spending on both goods and services increased in the fourth quarter.

Exports of goods and services increased; foods, feeds, and beverages was the largest contributor.

State and local government spending increased.

Offsetting these contributions to growth, imports increased, and federal government spending on national defense decreased.

Fourth-quarter revisions
The revision to the change in real GDP mainly reflected a downward revision to nonfarm inventory investment and an upward revision to imports. These contributions were partly offset by upward revisions to business investment and to state and local spending. For more information, see the technical note.